Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2010

Courtesy of Groovie Drunker Records

If there’s anyone who knows about Japan’s infatuation with goofy Green Day-esque SoCal punk-pop, it’s Koga. As boss of indie label Groovie Drunker Records, he has brought attention to such snotty young go-getters as Ketchup Mania, The Automatics and SpecialThanks. And as chief songwriter, vocalist and bassist in Rocket K, he proves he can walk the walk too. As fans of the band’s previous five albums will know, Rocket K stretch summery boy-girl harmonies over razor-sharp power chords at lightspeed tempos. On the catchy “Music Life,” Koga sings with unbridled joy of the rewards of working in music, in what may be nominally considered ‘English.’ And as with all Rocket K albums, there are covers: this time, Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” and “Carnival” by The Cardigans get the punked-up treatment. The band’s generic sound may not score points for originality, but the members’ passion is infectious, charming and, above all, fun.